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Pre-K provides ‘Bright Beginnings;’ register at your neighborhood school now

May 3, 2017

Northside ISD is projecting more than 2,400 students to register in Pre-Kindergarten, a program for four-year-old children offered in 69 elementary schools for next year. Registration is underway at neighborhood schools during normal school hours.

NISD offers free, half-day pre-kindergarten for eligible children who are four years of age on or before Sept. 1 and meet other eligibility requirements.

All Pre-K teachers are certified

“What sets Northside’s Pre-Kinder program apart from other programs is the high quality of our staff and facilities,” says Pat Mesquití, director of Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten programs at NISD. “We teach a concept-based curriculum tailored to four-year-olds.”

In Northside, all Pre-K teachers are certified by the Texas Education Agency in early childhood education, with many of them certified in Bilingual education also.

Students have fun while they learn

In Pre-K, students develop oral language and vocabulary skills, identify the letters of the alphabet, and develop phonic awareness skills. Children learn to interact with others and monitor their own behavior. Expressing themselves through words, art, and music is also part of the curriculum. Children also develop observation and thinking skills through math, science, and social studies.

Who can attend Pre-K?

In Texas, Pre-Kindergarten is not a required grade; however NISD offers half-day classes as per state law (Texas Education Code 29.153) for children, who are four years old (on or by September 1) and who meet one of several criteria: 1.) unable to speak or comprehend the English language, 2.) educationally disadvantaged (eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program), 3.) homeless, 4.) the child of an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States, 5.) the child of a member of the armed forces of the United States who was injured or killed while serving on active duty, 6.) a child who has been in foster care and has been adopted.

Through the Family Service Association, Northside offers Head Start for approximately 750 three-and-four-year-olds. Some four-year-olds attend school for a full day- a half-day of pre-kindergarten and a half-day of Head Start. To qualify, students have to live in the attendance zone for a school that offers Head Start, which will be at 17 campuses for the 2017-18 school year. For more information and full eligibility requirements, contact the Family Service Association at 299-2400.

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The City of San Antonio operates four sites which offer free, full-day pre-kindergarten for eligible students under the Pre-K 4 SA initiative. For information about Pre-K 4 SA, call 206-PREK (7735) or go to www.sanantonio.gov.

Northside

Northside ISD complies with federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on basis of race, color, national origin, age,sex, gender, religion, or disability. To request access to (or notify NISD regarding) online information or functionality that is not accessible, contact webmaster@nisd.net or call the communications department at (210) 397-8550. Any person who believes that he or she has been subjected to discrimination on the basis of disability may file a grievance by contacting Anna Draker at (210) 397-8741.